Slate: 'Is religion good for children?'

Yes.

 

That's fair.

I just think you're better off going off your own instincts from watching your kids rather than go off a Slate column. I'm sure you're doing that. I'm sure it would take a couple seconds on Google to find an article explaining why religion is necessary for kids.

I don't think going to church or Sunday school or religious school turns kids into evolution-denying, gay-hating future members of Westboro Baptist.

I think good parenting, and I have no doubts whatsoever that Dick is a good parent, is far more important in how your kids turn out than going or not going to church.

 

For the record, I'm not taking dictation from Slate. (I know you acknowledged that in your next sentence.) This will come as a surprise to most here, but I don't even regularly visit Slate. (I have on occasion listened to the weekly political and culture podcasts, which are very good. Some of their staff columnists, as opposed to the one-off rabble-rousers, are very good, as well.) Slate links show up in other news feeds and aggregation emails. If the piece is interesting, I'll read it.

The Slate piece linked cites to and discusses actual studies, both supportive of raising kids in religion and against.

 

I find that a little difficult to reconcile.

Seems very difficult to understand how someone who truly believes in God (and thus what He is about) could not worship Him.

Of course, that ties into your qualifier of "vaguely" . . . which I translate as "I'm not really sure I believe in God."

 

I believe in an intelligent First Cause, but feign no insight into its nature, purpose, plans, etc.

"Worship" is an odd concept for me to understand. I'm appreciative. That stops short, though.

 

That word is a bit rough. I know it's regularly used, but I prefer to simply "believe" I hope that doesn't sound too simplistic.

 

Uh, when did Christian "fundamentalists" become a small percentage, in this country? They are not only a large group, but a powerful group.

 

This is what people who don't believe in god say to those who do to fit in.

 

Oh, I don't care about that a whit.

 

The bullshit line is, "I'm not religious, but I'm spiritual." I don't think that's what Dick is saying.

 

Maybe when Dick eventually does have his come-to-Jesus moment he can start a thread about it.
Here's the thing- nobody cares what somebody does or doesn't believe in.

 

Nobody should care.

Far, far too many people do.